25:13
Agrippa and Bernice arrived a few days later, so Paul would have opportunity to preach the gospel to more of those in authority. So we see men having their own plans. The Jews wanted an opportunity to kill Paul, Festus was playing politics, but God worked through all this so that Roman leaders would hear the gospel. We should also note that there is no record of the leaders mentioned in these chapters being converted.
25:14-22
Festus explained the situation to Agrippa. Festus seems to see Paul as a kind of leftover from Felix’s time in office. He then explains how he interacted with the Jews, who were just interested in seeing Paul condemned. Festus is trying to make it clear that if anything was wrong it wasn’t his fault, and he has handled everything in good order since taking over. He also says that he found no good case from the Jews. He could see that the dispute was a purely religious matter. Agrippa wanted to hear Paul fo himself.
25:23-27
It seems that Agrippa and Bernice had a high opinion of themselves and liked all the trappings of office. So they were surrounded by military tribunes and prominent people of the city. Paul was then brought in. Agrippa wanted Paul to know that he was coming to meet someone of great importance. Festus then gives a brief summary of the situation and how they have got to there they are. Part of the problem in Paul appealing to the emperor was that there were now really no charges against him, at least no sustainable ones. Yet he had appealed to the Emperor, so had to go. Festus needed something to write in the letter that would go with Paul to Rome, ie the Emperor would want to know why this man was being sent to him.
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